Cong says ties with JD(U), RJD for 'larger national interest'

The Congress on Tuesday justified its alliance with JD(U) and RJD in Bihar and said such forces against the BJP would be strengthened elsewhere in the country.

Strongly backing his party allying with the parties of Lalu Prasad and Nitish Kumar, Congress General Secretary C P Joshi told PTI in Patna, "This alliance is not opportunistic, but for larger national interest."

"If this is an opportunistic alliance what name will you give the alliance between LJP of Ramvilas Paswan and Narendra Modi?" Joshi, who was here to campaign for Congress candidates at Bhagalpur and Narkatiaganj in the August 21 Assembly bypoll, asked.

Joshi said he would share the dias with senior JD(U) leader Nitish Kumar and RJD President Lalu Prasad at Narkatiaganj on August 17.

In seat-sharing for the Assembly bypoll in 10 seats in Bihar, RJD and JD(U) would contest four seats each and the Congress two.

Asked if the alliance would lead to a tie-up in the crucial Assembly election in the state next year, Joshi, in-charge of Bihar affairs, replied "Naturally."